Women entrepreneurs are switching to technology business from fancy dresses

As an entrepreneur, the interest of the customer must be protected, if the customer's trust is not gained, it is impossible to do business, said the founder president of Anisul Haque Foundation Dr. Rubana Haque while speaking to the cohort members at the closing ceremony of Anisul Haque Cohort. On Saturday (October 29), the experience exchange and closing ceremony of this 8-month-long project was organized. Anisul Haque Foundation, Bangladesh Open Source Network (BDOSN) and Chakri Khujbona, Chakri Debo jointly managed this project. Anisul Haque Cohort for Growth of Women Entrepreneurs project provides information and guidance, financial and emotional support and product-market-financial management to women entrepreneurs in business growth planning. The journey of this project started in February this year with 37 small and medium women entrepreneurs. Cohort members and mentors were present at the experience sharing event today. BDOSN general secretary Munir Hasan presided over the closing ceremony. The main objective of this project, organized after the name of the late mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, Anisul Haque, was to identify the problems of the selected entrepreneurs and help them overcome those identified problems. On behalf of the mentors at the closing event, Gazi Tauhidur Rahman of FM Plastics said, "Entrepreneurs are never defeated, but it is not the policy of an entrepreneur to harm others for his own benefit." As part of the project activities, the project provides various support including 9 thematic online incubation sessions, placement after office visit, attachment to Girls Innovation Bootcamp, financial assistance and marketing support, Entrepreneurship Hut, business expansion from online to offline, attachment to various institutional training programs. Meanwhile, two members of the cohort are moving their online activities offline as planned. The entrepreneurs completed this cohort journey through intensive observation for the past 8 months. Participants analyze their business model as well as develop a plan on how to expand it. Eminent mentors and experts then provide necessary support as per their plans. Khadija Maryam, Head of Women Entrepreneur Cell of BRAC Bank, Mohsena Khanam Munna, Finance Controller of Start-up Bangladesh, Haniam Maria Chowdhury, Head of Women Entrepreneur Development Unit of Tahu Entrepreneur and Lanka Bangla Limited, Liza A. Hossain, Business Head of Brandylane were associated with this project as mentors. Managing Director of SME Bhai Technologies Limited Mehdi Hasan Sagar, Founder and CEO of Shaheens Helpline Md Aminul Islam, Managing Director of The Eastern Pickle Company Zahidul Islam, Managing Director of FM Plastics Md Gazi Tauhidur Rahman, Managing Director of Nijal Creative Photography Abu Sufian Nilav. The cohort was organized with women entrepreneurs from various sectors including manufacturing, boutique, food, leather, jute, handicrafts, IT, e-commerce. The selected cohort members are - Maqsuda Khatun of Shabab Leather, Farhana Yasmin of Sat Rang, Taslima Sultana of Extra Mile Edge Care, Jotsna Begum of Ekattor Sourcing Limited, Israt Jahan of Tulika Eco Limited, Mosa. Shahan Begum of Fine Fair Craft, Hafiza of Amar Pari. Akhter Rani, Tanha Akhter Mukta of Tam Creation, Fahmida Ahmed of Shraddha, Tahmina Akhtar Chamak of Annex Leather, Hasnat Jahan of Cafe Zero, Talukdar Zeba Jahan of Anubhav By Jeba, Mosa. Umm Kulsoom Poppy of BD Assistant, Afsana Yasmin of Wasi Craft (Diba), Shaukat Ara Fatima Mau of Friends Consultancy, Asma Khatun of Asha Food Mocha, Tahura Banu of Crafts, Asma Haque of Dhabal, Jasmine Akhter of AR Physiotherapy Centre. The program of the cohort ended with the distribution of certificates to the cohort members. The project is supported by Daffodil International University's Anisul Haque Study Centre, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department and Nagorik TV. Nijal Creative was the photography partner for the closing event.